Utilizing the purchasing power it has gained from representing over 30 percent of the U.S. watermelon supply, Sundia Corp. has signed an agreement with Weyerhaeuser on behalf of Sundia's grower-partners. Under the agreement, Sundia's partners will be eligible to reduce their price per pound by purchasing "Sundia" branded paper products, such as bins and packaging, made by Weyerhaeuser at the guaranteed lowest pricing. The agreement will also enable growers to return unused products at the end of the watermelon season to Weyerhaeuser and receive up to a 5 percent rebate for them. "Our ongoing

Inclement weather has delayed the start of this year's West Side melon deal in California, and production will be slightly off that of 2005, according to those involved with the deal. J.D. Allen, assistant manager of the Cantaloupe Advisory Board, said that this year's estimate on the West Side melon deal is 20 million cartons of cantaloupes in 30- or 40-pound cartons, down from last year's production of 22.2 million cartons. The West Side deal covers Bakersfield and points north, but doesn't include the Imperial Valley. Five hundred cartons of melons per acre is a typical baseline. Everything

DNE World Fruit Sales will soon kick off the 2006 summer import season with high-quality Australian citrus. Initial shipments of Aussie Navels will begin June 28. "Charter loads usually begin shipping July 6," Stu Monaghan, national sales manager for DNE, said in a statement. "This season, early fruit maturity is resulting in the first June startup in the program's history, and DNE is taking advantage of the window with container shipments." Containers are due to arrive at Long Beach, CA, June 23, giving customers an additional two weeks of program ability. New early varieties of tangerines --

About halfway through the season in mid-June, the Sonora spring grape industry is looking ahead at a longer season and optional grading. About 20 spring grape distributor-members of the Nogales, AZ-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas and grower-partners from Hermosillo and Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, held their annual mid-season meeting June 7. The objective was to review current and projected spring grape shipments and to review U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections. Chaired by John Pandol of Pandol Bros. in Delano, CA, the Sonora Spring Grape Division of the FPAA discussed

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ -- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus led a delegation of produce specialists to the June 13 meeting of the Eastern Produce Council, updating EPC members on how the state's crops were looking as the 2006 season was ramping up. In summary, the season for most items started a bit early, quality on the early vegetables has been very good, and the forecast for later vegetables and all fruit items is for continued excellent quality and sizing. John Rigolizo of the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey gave the first crop report at the dinner meeting

Bengard Ranch, a leading provider of premium vegetables based in Salinas, CA, announced that it has hired Jesse Gomez as executive vice president of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for managing the daily sales and marketing functions of the company and will be charged with leading Bengard Ranch to a stronger national position across various segments of the industry. "Bengard Ranch has been a cornerstone in the produce industry for over four decades and has positioned themselves very well," Mr. Gomez said in a statement. "The company is well known for its strong ground base, year